Zatima-Is it happily ever after all

Part 3

Zac: it's cool Fatima, look imma go for a drive before I say something I can't take back.
Fatima: like what, like what. I literally do everything you say. I dress the way you like, I cook the meals you like, I'm available at your beckon call. You know what our friends say? They say you have me on a tight leash. That I don't make a move without checking with you first.
Zac: And!!! Are you're friends taking care of the way you are? Do you want for any fucking thing? You don't work and haven't. I pay for your schooling. You drive a luxury car. This house was 1.5 when we got it. You have money at your disposal. What fucking more could you want?
Fatima: I want my husband to respect me. To honer some of my wants.

There was an awkward silence, Fatima had tears falling down her cheeks and Zac was just staring at her. Fatima has never expressed these feelings of disrespect to Zac before. They've had plenty of arguments and conversations but she's never said anything about the lack of respect she's given.

Zac: you think I don't respect you. Why would i marry someone I don't respect. Why would I work as hard as I do to provide for someone I don't respect.
Fatima: you don't respect my feelings. I've tried to tell you many times that I'm not ready for more children. Yet you don't hear me. I've told you before that you don't respect me wanting to practice law. I've told you before I hate the groupies you don't check at your away games. I hate that Zoe is so defiant with me and yet you don't have to raise a voice with her. I hate that I support you and your career in basketball even though I hate that you're never home longer than 3.5 months at a time. Yet you can't put your wants aside for me to achieve my dreams. Zac I love you, I swear I do. But somethings have to change in this relationship. I think we need to visit Dr. Reid just for a reset. He helped us the last time.

Before Zac and Fatima got married they went to couples counseling. They were given tools to help communicate and for a while they did great.

Zac: set it up then Fatima, whatever. Imma go finish working out until I go to practice.

A few hours later and Fatima was laying in bed reading. Zoe was in bed sleeping and Zac was out with a few of his teammates hanging. When the phone rang.

Aubrey: hey my beautiful daughter in law
Fatima: hey Aubrey what's up
Aubrey: nothing just checking on you
Fatima: my mother called you, didn't she🙄
Do you two ever stop telling everything that goes on at my house?
Aubrey: oh excuse me, you're mother and I are just concerned about y'all. We love y'all you know that.
Y'all put this front on in public like everything's all good, when privately y'all struggle to communicate.
Fatima: where fine, really.
Aubrey: look, like I told my son, we don't want it to get bad like it was when Zoe was a baby.
Fatima: Aubrey thank you but we are fine. I told my mom and I'm telling you, we're fine. Imma go to bed I'll see you all Sunday for dinner, love you.

Fatima loves her mother in law but Fatima and Zac both agreed that what's goes on in their relationship
Stays there. The last time things were bad and they involved them, it made it worse. They try to keep there parents out of it now. Because they've been together since high school sometimes it's hard for the parents to see them as adults and not that emotional senior and junior from high school.
It was midnight when Zac got back home. He walked in the kitchen and opened the microwave to see his dinner his wife had made him. He heated it up and sat on the couch to watch some sports highlights.
It was about 2:30am when he finally came to bed. He saw Fatima sleeping in her " you ain't getting no pussy" pajamas. He knew she was still upset.

Fatima turned to her other side, adjusting her pillow. Are you just getting home? She asked

Zac: No, I was downstairs watching sports center.
Fatima: oh ok, did you eat your dinner?
Zac: yes thanks it was good. How was Zoe tonight?
Fatima: she had a pretty good day.
Zac: cool. Did you set the appointment 🙄
Fatima: yeah it's for Friday. I looked at your schedule and that's the only day you were pretty much free.
Zac: ok.

Zac phone buzzed from a notification.
Zac: it's just an Instagram notification, someone tagged me to a photo, that's it. Ain't nobody texting me at this hour I don't need them type of problems.
Fatima: I'm glad you know. Can you put your phone away and hold me.
Zac: come here,

He kissed her forehead and started rubbing her arm.
Zac: I love you baby
Fatima: dido
Zac: Fatima.
Fatima: you know I love you Zac, and I would do anything for you.
Zac: I know T
Fatima: I just wish you'd see things from my perspective.
Zac: baby I wish you could see things from my perspective. I want what I want.
Fatima: you always do.
Zac: do you really fault me for wanting to have a family with the woman of my dreams.
Fatima: do you fault me for wanting to follow mine?
Zac you said that if I had Zoe that I would still be able to pursue my dreams, that Zoe would be an additional to that. I have made sacrifices for our family. You think because you set us up financially I should be content. I put my dreams on the back burner to parent Zoe and so that you could live out your dreams. All I'm asking is to live out my dreams of becoming a lawyer.

The room was quiet. Fatima face nestled in between Zac's arm and chest and Zac looking at the ceiling.